Temperature responsive alarm device



July 16, 1957 w; c. MESSICK TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE ALARM DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT'OR Wu; A Aw (W K ATTORNEY llllll Filed Sept. 26, 1955 July 16, 1957 w. c. MESSICK TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE ALARM DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1955 ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,799,239 TEIVIPERATURE RESPONSIVE ALARM DEVICE Willard C. Messick, Summit, N. J. Application September 26, 1955, Serial No. 536,594 9 Claims. (Cl. 116-106) This invention relates to alarm devices, and is more particularly directed to the provision of a temperature responsive alarm device which will serve as an automatic detector, for example, of an ambient temperature change beyond that at which said device is set to be operative. The device is highly useful as an automatic, self-contained, thermally actuated single or multiple station, fire detector system which will automatically actuate an audible signal or other alarm and maintain the same persistently for a considerable period of time. The device incorporates novel structural features which insure the instantaneous operation thereof at the desired predetermined temperature change to actuate an alarm for a protracted period, for example, on the occurrence of a fire, and is so designed that a plurality of alarm units, such as horns may be coupled to a single cylinder of the device if desired so as-to sound the alarm at a number of diiferent stations, or a single alarm unit, such as the horn of the device, may be coupled to a plurality of cylinders located at different stations so as to sound the alarm upon the occurrence of a fire at' any of the stations.

These and other advantageous objects, which will appear from the drawings and from the description hereinafter, are accomplished by the structure of my invention, of which an embodiment is illustrated in the drawings. It will be apparent, from a consideration of said drawings and the following description, that the invention may be embodied in other forms suggested thereby, and such other forms as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered within the scope and purview of the instant invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary, sectional, elevational view of a temperature responsive alarm device embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of an elongated fitting member used in carrying out the invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a signal housing unit which may be used in carrying out the invention, showing, fragmentarily, parts to which the same may be connected,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken on line 4-.4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of a reed unit which may be used in device,

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a heat collecting plate which may be used in carrying out the invention, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, schematic view, showing the manner in which, pursuant to the invention, a single cylinder casing, disposed at a given station may be coupled to horns disposed at the same and remote stations.

In the drawings, the temperature responsive alarm device of this invention is shown to comprise a casing 10 to be filled with and to releasably store a medium 11 under pressure, and an elongated fitting member 12 secured to the casing through which the medium 11 may be discharged on opening of the valve responsive to a critical ice change in ambient temperature, to actuate an alarm, such as the vibratory reed 13 in the signal housing 14. Medium 11 is preferably a pressure fluid medium of a type suitable for the purpose such as Genetron (CClsF) or Genetron l2 (CClzFz) (dichloro-difiuoro-methane). The elongated fitting member 12 through which the medium 11 is to flow is provided with a bore 15 therethrough and a hollow tube 16 is secured to the lower end of the member 12 opening 15, as indicated at 17 in Figs. 1 and 2, so as to form, in efiect, an extension thereof. Tube 16 is hollow (Fig.2) and is provided with a radial opening 18 disposed below the normal level 19 of the medium 11 in the casing, for passage of the medium through the valve on opening the member 12. The latter is provided with heat sensitive means (such as 36, Fig. 1) closing the upper end of the opening 15 thereof.

The member 12 connects the casing 10 with a signal device such as the housing 20, either directly, as in Fig. l, or through the medium of intermediate members such as bracket 21 secured to elongated fitting member 12 and connector 22 coupled thereto shown in Fig. 7. The housing has a chamber 23 with which the fitting bore 15 communicates and has a second opening, 24, in which the reed 13 is secured by any suitable means such as the ring 25. The housing is provided with an aperture 26 in registry with and preferably of larger diameter than the bore 15 of the elongated fitting member 12. The outer end of the horn may have a protective screen 71 (Fig. 3). The upper end of the bore 15 of member 12 is normally closed by heat sensitive means 36 such that the medium 11 will be discharged automatically on occurrence of a predetermined ambient temperature change, for example, such as would be brought about a fire. The lower end of the hollow tube 16 is closed as at 27; said tube may be provided with a second aperture, 28, below the aperture 18. Both of said apertures may be covered by a screen 29 to preclude contamination.

The casing 10 may be provided with an opening 31 (Fig. 1) in registry with the normal level 19 of the medium 11 in said casing, and said opening 31 has a light-permeable window 32 secured thereto by suitable means such as 33-34. 1

The upper end (Fig. 3) of the bore 15 in the member 12 is preferably formed downwardly tapered (as indicated at 35 in Figs. 2 and 3) and is normally closed by a heat sensitive plug 36, which at normal temperatures will maintain the upper end of the bore 15 sealed, but, on occurrence of a predetermined ambient temperature, as for example, one attained on occurrence of a fire, will become loose and will be ejected from its seat 35.

The plug 36 may be made of eutectic metal; the device of this invention is through the medium of plate 45 so designed as below more fully explained that ambient heat is concentrated on and immediately carried to the plug seat 35, the external faces of the plug being first heated, begin to change from their solid state; pressure being exerted on the plug from the constricted lower end 37 (Fig. 3) of plug seat 35, the plug is ejected as a unit. The plug 36 may be made of fusible metal, the tapered plug seat 35 of the bore 15 being initially filled therewith and thereby sealed while the ambient temperature is less than the one at which the plug will be ejected as above noted.

Means are provided for checking the plug when it is so ejected, to prevent its entry into the chamber 23. As

shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said means may comprise a screen 38 positioned over the enlarged recess 39 at the end of the elongated fitting member 12. The recess 39 is provided with a lower wall which is downwardly outwardly sloping as indicated at 40 (Fig. 2). As the plug 36 is ejected from its tapered seat 35 it will strike the screen 38- and drop down to a position on the sloping lower wall 40,

I where it will not interfere with the discharge of the gases discharged from the casing into the chamber 23 of the housing 14.

A heat collecting plate 45 (Figs. 1, 3, 6) preferably of arcuate cross section is secured directly to the valve body 12 in the line with the plug seat 35 to collect heat and directly transmit it to the plug 36. The plate 45 may be provided with air vents 4-6 (Fig. 6) to prevent the accumulation of, stale air. The plate 35 is mounted intermediate a flat body portion 48 which may be in the form of an enlarged fin or body 12 for better heat contact with the plate, and a heat insulating ring 49. intermediate the upper end of the valve body 12 and the housing. A portion 50 of the housing is disposed inwardly of the chant.-

ber 23 therein so as to. act as a baffle in cases. such as.

shown in Figs. 3 and 7 wherein the point at which pressure. line (22) opens into chamber 23 would. otherwise be in direct line. with the reed 13.; bafile 50 deflects. the gas, so that, in such cases, it will take an indirect course to the reed; this arrangement is efficient and practical;

The member 12 may be thermally insulated from the casing 10 by an insulating ring 51 disposed within an internally threaded open collar or socket 52 fixed to the casing, as shown in Fig. 1.; a further insulating washer 53 (Fig. 1) may be positioned between a flange 54 formed on the valve 12 and the ring 52.

The housing may be directly connected to the valve body, as in Figs. 1 and 2, or may be indirectly connected thereto through intermediaries 21 and 22 as above described, and shown in Fig. 7, where, for example, it is desired that a plurality of casings 10 and associated parts be connected to a single housing 20. In such case the aperture 26 for the horn may be closed by a plug 55, and lines 56, 57, 22, connected to the horn at one end and to casings 10 (not shown) at the other end. Lines 56, 57

and'22 may be straight, curved or bent, as conditions require, and may be coupled to the single housing such as 20 by cross coupler 58,which may be in turn connectedto the housing 20 as by a tube 59 secured to an aperture 60 in the horn, or-as shown in Fig. 4, the lines 22, 56 and 57 might be connected directly to apertures located at different parts of the horn. The same arrangement might be used to connect a single cylinder to a plurality of housings at different stations.

The reed 13 consists of two shells or halves 61, 62,

Fig. 5, with a single reed 63 secured intermediate the same and adapted to vibrate in an opening 64 at the upper ends of the reed shells 61, 62. The reed shells 61, 62 are, at their upper ends tapered away from the reed, to define the mention-opening 64. The central reed 63 will not lock when subjected to excess pressure as it will be constantly released under pressure. The improved reed of this invention as described vibrates against two shells, increasing the sound level and protecting the reed from taking a set or locking in the event of excess pressure. The back 70 of the reed may be coated with a silicone grease film which will seal and protect the reed and the chamber 23 of the single housing against corrosion; a volume of gas will accumulate in the chamber 23 of the single housingfor the purpose of starting the reed vibrating before pressure is suflicient to break the silicone grease film 70.

The plug 36 retained the liquid and gas in cylinder casing 10 within 11 F. of its operating temperature as required by Underwriters Laboratory rules and has an instant response to the desired release temperature such as 136" F. of heat. The plug is expelled as a solid, which eliminates any possibility of liquid metal being carried into the chamber 23 and solidifying on the reed;. The hollow tube 16 may be made of brass, A; inch in diameter and 5% inches long; its function is to provide a flow of the liquid and gas medium 11 with which the casing .10

is filled into the member 12 in a matter of seconds on.

clearing opening 15 of plug 36. The orifice 18 of the tube is preferably .020 inch in diameter and located /2 inch below the level 19 of the liquid in the casing 10.

When the metal plug 36 is expelled, the liquid 11 is shot into the single housing casing 23 and said liquid gasifies instantly, providing the desired pressure to sound the alarm. This pressure would instantly fill the tubing 22, 56, 57 in a case of an installation such as in Fig. 7.

The reed 63 requires far less pressure to maintain its continued vibration than in the initiation of its vibration. As above noted, the silicone grease film serves two purposesit. seals chamber 23 and it requires a build-up of pressure in the chamber to start reed 63 vibrating. When plug 36 is ejected from its seat 35 there is an initial surge of the liquid 11 into chamber 23, Fig. 3, or tubing. 22, Fig. 7, until the level of the first aperture 18 in the tube 16 is reached. This initially surging liquid gasifies before reaching the reed and surges through the reed in a burst, providing the initial surge to set the reed vibrating; the liquid flow stops and only gas passes through aperture 18 after the liquid level in casing 10 dropsv below aperture 18 in tube 16. The aperture 18 permits suflicient gas flow to keep the reed 63 operating due to the large expansion area created as the liquid fluid 11 drops. The second aperture 28 is preferably .004 inch in diameter and is placed about inch below the first aperture 18; it permits additional flow of gas when the liquid level drops. The liquid flowing through the aperture 28 gasifies in the tubing 16 before. it reaches the single housing head 23. The light permeable window 32 may be a convex glass eye; a color dye which is compatible with the liquid 11 may be mixed with the liquid, so that the liquid level 19 will be readily visible through eye 32. If leakage occurs, the eye 32 will lose its color when two ounces of liquid 11 have been lost (assuming the relative proportion of partsshown in Fig. l of the original drawings of the application). This eliminates the necessity for periodic weighing of the casing 10 to check against leakage. A hanger may be provided for suspending the casing .10 from a wall. The. fin 48 distributes heat evenly. The tubing 22, 56, 57 may convey the gas flowing through casing 10 to remote. signal housings; such remote horns have been. so operated at five hundred feet from. the casing 10; there appears to be no reasonable distance limitation.

Thus a. single casing 10 in a basement for example, may be connected to signal housing at different floor levels of a home. In commercial installations, for example, a casing 10 in a warehouse. may be connected to a signal housing in a remote other building, such as an oflice or guards room.

The tubing may be joined together with compression fittings or the like, 65, 66 (Fig. 7). As many cylinders asdesired may be attached to one line of tubing in thearrangement shown in Fig. 7.

The. operation of the device of this invention, following ejection of plug 36. from its seat 35, appears to be as follows: The level (19) of the liquid 11 being higher than the first aperture 18, there will bean initial surge of liquid through aperture 18. and tube 16 and thence into chamber 23 (in the case of the Fig. 1 form of the invention) or into the tubing 22 (in. the case of the Fig. 7 form of the invention) the liquid flowing several times faster than gas to provide an initial liquid or mist surge to initiate vibration of reed alarm. When the liquid level 19 drops below the aperture 18 apparently the liquid gasifies and will flow through and out of the tube 16. The tube 16, being in direct contact with the member 12,. which may beof. brass or similar material of good heat conducting properties, and the interior wall of the casing both heated by theambient temperature agitate and gasify the liquid. The second aperture 28 is preferably made so smallv that it will not normally enable liquid to flow therethrough until the liquid level falls to the point of registry with'said second aperture 28, whereupon, and only for the very short time that, the liquid is at that'level, some liquid will flow into and'through' the tube 16 to provide a second surge or"pick' 13 and thus sounding the.

13 vibrating rapidly; from then until all of the remaining liquid 11 has gasified and been completely expelled through tube 16 against the reed 13, the reed will continue to vibrate and sound the alarm. More than two of such apertures (18, 28) may be provided, the third, etc. apertures operating to pick up or provide a surge to set the reed vibrating as the liquid level 19 registers therewith, then followed by gas to continue the reed vibrating. The device of this invention is operative either in the normal upright position thereof as shown in the drawings (it may be secured to a ceiling or wall by suitable means in that position) or inverted 180 from that position, or at any intermediate angle-a feature not possible with devices of the prior art which are operative in one position only, and which might well be rendered inoperative by the very means which precipitate a fire. The device is basically fool-proof, being free of reliance on mechanical movement which might result in jamming or mechanical failure at the critical time.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a temperature responsive alarm device having a casing to store a pressure medium, an elongated fitting having a bore therethrough, means securing said fitting to said casing so as to extend exposed therefrom, heat-sensitive means in the so-exposed portion of said fitting nor mally closing said bore through the member but opening said bore when heated to predetermined temperature, an elongated tube secured, at one end, to the elongated fitting and depending interiorly of the casing, said tube being closed at its lower end interiorly of the casing, and having an opening in the wall of the tube connecting the interior thereof with the interior of the casing, for passage of the medium in the casing through the tube and into the bore of the fitting, and a signal device secured to said fitting, whereby, when, responsive to ambient temperature change to said predetermined temperature, the heat sensitive means in the bore of the fitting is moved clear of said bore, the medium in the casing will flow through the opening in the wall of the tube, through the tube, and through the bore of said fitting to actuate said signal device.

2. In an alarm device as set forth in claim 1, said pressure medium extending to a given normal level in the casing, said opening in the wall of the tube being disposed below said normal level.

up to again set the reed 3. In an alarm device as set forth in claim 1, said tube being provided with a second opening in the wall of the tube spaced from the first mentioned opening.

4. In an alarm device as set forth in claim 1, said casing having an opening in the wall thereof in registry with the normal level of the medium in the casing, and lightpermeable means in said opening to provide a visual check as to the level of said medium.

5. In an alarm device as set forth in claim 1, said heat sensitive means closing the bore through the fitting comprising a plug of normally solid state filling the upper end of the bore and made of heat sensitive material, so as to become peripherally separated from said bore, and ejected therefrom, responsive to the pressure in the casing, on occurrence of said predetermined change in said ambient temperature and interception means positioned in the path of ejection of said plug.

6. In an alarm device as set forth in claim 1, said signal device being so secured to the fitting by a tube secured at one end to the signal device, and means to connect the opposite end of said tube to said fitting.

7. In an alarm device as set forth in claim 1, said signal device including a housing connected at opposite ends to the fitting and to a signal element, said housing having a chamber therein, and a baffle extended inwardly into the chamber so as to interrupt the medium in its passage through the chamber.

8. In an alarm device as set forth in claim 1, said signal device including a signal element and means for connection of said element with other casings in a system utilizing more than one casing.

9. In an alarm device as set forth in claim 1, a screen intermediate the signal device and the bore of the fitting.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 994,498 Bishop June 6, 1911 1,994,426 Billig Mar. 12, 1935 2,309,804 Smith Feb. 2, 1943 2,609,692 Ahlgren Sept. 9, 1952 2,649,752 Showstack Aug. 25, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 318,803 Italy Jan. 21, 1934 

